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Using MacPorts is also quite easy and I think and you can use it to get 1.8.7

sudo gem update will make sure you have the latest versions of gems installed. This only updates gems that have already been installed so you'll need to sudo gem install gemnames first. Use gem list for a report on the gems you have installed.

If gems you thought you'd installed aren't showing for your apps (say, you're using a different ruby install), you might need to find the right gem to do the installing and updating. Eg, which -a gem to find your different gem installations and then sudo /path/to/gem install gemname (or update).

Why not try python? Check what version of python you have installed by typing:

$ python

(then ctrl+D to exit)

It really doesn't matter what version of ruby or python you have installed--unless you want the version to match a particular book you want to buy. The ruby and python versions that are currently installed will both be recent enough for a beginner. Both ruby and python are currently in a transitional phase to a newer version: 1.9.x for ruby and 3.x for python. However, both languages have a lot of third party modules that you will want to use, and it will take a while for those modules to get rewritten for the new versions. So if you want to learn the newest version, you won't have access to some functionality. On the flip side, with the newest versions you will be learning the latest and greatest core features.

Good points 7stud. My learning books for ruby and python are 1.9 and 3 respectively (which is my reason for installing latest versions of each). I chose to learn the newer versions since it'll take me long enough to reach the level of proficiency I want.

On a practical level I've heard that ruby 1.9 is a good deal faster than stock 1.8. isitruby19 has a compatibility list.